Woman Allegedly Raped After Responding To Fake Massage Course In Żejtun
A woman who answered what she believed was a legitimate job offer for massage work was allegedly raped inside a Żejtun apartment, a court heard on Monday.
A 27-year-old machine operator, Amal Kunhikannan, an Indian national residing in Żejtun, was charged with rape, unlawful restraint, and non-consensual sexual acts. He pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Ann Marie Thake as reported by Times of Malta.
Police Inspector Wayne Buhagiar told the court that the victim, a Colombian national, had responded to a Facebook advert promoting training for massage therapists. The woman communicated with a profile named “Marina Bella”, who directed her to a Żejtun address to “learn the techniques”. When she arrived, she instead found the accused, who allegedly assaulted her during what was presented as a training session.
After reporting the incident to police, a magisterial inquiry was launched and the man was arrested shortly after. Bail was not requested, and a protection order was issued in favour of the woman.
The prosecution was led by AG lawyer Cynthia Tomasuolo, assisted by Inspector Buhagiar, while the accused was represented by legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young.
READ NEXT: 'Silence = Death': Activists Rally In Valletta Over HIV Prevention Failures
